OPPONENTS of Tesco’s applications to build a store in Ashtead are setting up a campaign for funds to pay for their planning fight.

Tesco has begun appeals against the decisions of Mole Valley District Council to refuse two applications for a supermarket in The Street.

The first, turned down in March 2009, was for a store with a 1,115sq-m sales area, while the application refused by a single councillor's vote in February of this year would have had a 750sq-m sales floor, amounting to 815sq-m including the checkouts space.

A government planning inspector will now decide whether the council was correct in its decisions, with a public inquiry due to start on July 20.

The goal of Ashtead Residents' Association (ARA) and campaign group SAVE (Save Ashtead Village Environment) is to raise £25,000 to pay for a planning specialist and a barrister to represent their case.

The groups believe the wide range of detailed and technical issues require this step, and are confident the expert support will help the council’s decisions to be upheld.

Some £5,000 has already been committed to the fund, but there is limited time to raise the further money needed.

ARA chairman Paul Le Versha said: “We are determined to do the best that we can to fight these proposals.

“We will work closely with SAVE and other community representatives to fight for a development which would be an asset to the village. Tesco’s proposals are simply too big.

“We have very little time available to raise a substantial sum. We are confident however that the funds needed will be raised and that the community will pool its resources to fight for a better outcome.”

Gillian Russell, spokesman for SAVE, said work was going on to gather evidence in support of the opponents’ case.

She added: “More than 6,000 people signed both of SAVE’s petitions, so the level of opposition is overwhelming .

“We are confident that the people of Ashtead will give generously to help save our wonderful village, but we must all act quickly as time is short.”

Leaflets are to be delivered to homes soon telling people how they can make contributions to the fund.

The groups have said they would support the development of the former Esso site in The Street and for it to include a supermarket.

But as well as insisting Tesco’s plans were too large, they argued they were not appropriate for the village and could ruin its character and lead to the neighbouring Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall’s car park being overcrowded.

A failure to consult with neighbours on the plans was also cited by opponents.

There were mixed views on the impact the store might have on other nearby traders, some feeling it would take their business and others confident it would bring a boost in footfall.

Tesco said an application to extend the neighbouring car park had made it large enough and that people had been consulted on the plans, also arguing the store would bring benefits to Ashtead as a whole.